Surgical technique of laparoscopic ureterocalicostomy using the VIO soft-coagulation system.

One of the most crucial issues while performing ureterocalicostomy (UC) in patients with well-functioning thick renal parenchyma is controlling bleeding from the anastomotic site. In general, renorrhaphy is necessary for hemostasis because conventional coagulation remains unreliable in cases of an incised thick renal parenchyma. Instead of the parenchymal renorrhaphy, the VIO soft-coagulation system is used for hemostasis. Sutureless hemostasis using soft coagulation is a safe, feasible, and minimally invasive technique for laparoscopic UC.

Improved detection of donor-specific HLA-class II antibody in kidney transplant recipients by modified immunocomplex capture fluorescence analysis.

Immunocomplex capture fluorescence analysis (ICFA) which basic principle is same as Luminex crossmatch (LXM), could detect donor-specific HLA antibody (DSA). The advantages of ICFA are (i) detection of DSA and (ii) no requirement of viable cells over the flow cytometry crossmatch (FCXM). However, FCXM has been widely used because of its higher sensitivity than ICFA, in particular HLA-class II antibody detection. In this study the accuracy of DSA detection against HLA-class II was investigated by modifying the original method of ICFA. Increment of the sensitivity was found when purified peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were used instead of whole blood. An ICFA-PBMC in addition to FCXM-T/B was conducted for 118 patients before kidney transplantation and 13 patients with de novo DSA against HLA-class II after transplantation. Significantly positive correlation was observed between the values of ICFA-PBMC and DSA mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) targeting class II (p < 0.0001). When the cutoff level of 1.4 was determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the average DSA MFI was found to be significantly higher in the ICFA-PBMC (class II) positive group comparing to that in the negative group (12,217 vs 3885, p = 0.0027). ICFA-PBMC and optimized cutoff level could provide valid information in cases of suspected DSA.

[BILATERAL CALCIFIED URETERAL STRICURE REQUIRING URINARY RECONSTRUCTION IN EOSINOPHILIC GRANULOMATOSIS WITH POLYANGITIS: A CASE REPORT].

Calcified ureteral obstruction is a rare complication of vasculitis. Only a few cases of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) have been published. We herein report a case of successful surgical repair of bilateral ureteral strictures in a patient with EGPA. A retrograde pyelogram revealed complete bilateral ureteral obstruction in the patient. Bilateral nephrostomies were placed because we were unable to introduce a double-J stent. The vasculitis and eosinophilia both responded to immunosuppressive therapy, but ureteral obstruction persisted. Surgical reconstruction was elected in order to eliminate the need for permanent external drainage. A combined nephrostogram/retrograde ureterogram revealed a 10 cm right ureteral gap and a 3 cm left ureteral gap. The left ureter was amenable to end-to- end anastomosis, pyeloureteroplasty, but repair of the right ureter required interposition of intestinal tissue. Right ureteral reconstruction was performed by combining the Yang-Monti ileal ureteral substitution and appendiceal interposition with a psoas hitch. The isolated appendix was interposed in an antiperistaltic fashion between the Yang-Monti tube and bladder. His kidney function has remained normal, and he is without vasculitic symptoms.

Can excretory phase computed tomography predict bacteremia in obstructive calculous pyelonephritis?

PURPOSE: Acute pyelonephritis (AP), a complication of urolithiasis, can be fatal if it progresses to septic shock. We aimed to evaluate the performance of excretory phase computed tomography (CT) in predicting bacteremia among AP patients with upper urinary tract calculi. METHODS: We reviewed medical records of 250 patients diagnosed with AP and upper urinary tract calculi and who were admitted to our institute. We analyzed 132 patients who underwent excretory phase CT. Excretory phase CT images were obtained 7 min after injection with the contrast agent. Obstruction was classified either as high or low grade. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the risk factors of bacteremia. RESULTS: Of 132 patients, 73 (55.3%) had bacteremia. Escherichia coli was the most frequently identified pathogen in blood cultures. Univariate analysis demonstrated that high-grade obstruction on excretory phase CT and quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score ≥ 2 were correlated with bacteremia. In addition, the administration of vasopressors was significantly associated with bacteremia (31.5% vs. 6.8%; p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified high-grade obstruction on excretory phase CT [odds ratio (OR) 6.68; p < 0.001] and qSOFA score ≥ 2 (OR 3.59, p = 0.03) as independent risk factors for bacteremia. CONCLUSIONS: Excretory phase CT images can be used to predict bacteremia by evaluating the degree of ureteral obstruction. The evaluation of the passage of urine shown by excretory phase CT is critical in patients with AP associated with upper urinary tract calculi.

[Effect of distigmine at 5 mg daily in patients with detrusor underactivity].

PURPOSE: Since distigmine can cause the serious side effect of cholinergic crisis, its dosage regimen has been reduced to 5 mg/day for patients with difficulty in urination due to detrusor underactivity. Therefore, the efficacy and safety of add-on therapy with distigmine at 5 mg daily were examined in patients with persistent urination problems due to detrusor underactivity despite administration of alpha1-blockers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The subjects were 39 patients with underactive bladder (18 men and 21 women with an average age of 75 years) who showed no improvement of difficulty in urination or had a residual urine volume > or = 50 ml despite the administration of alpha1-blockers for more than 4 weeks. They received treatment with distigmine (5 mg daily after breakfast) in addition to their alpha1-blockers for 8 weeks. The international prostate symptom score (IPSS), quality-of-life (QOL) score, residual urine volume, blood pressure, and biochemistry tests were investigated before and after addition of distigmine. RESULTS: After four and eight weeks of distigmine administration, all items of the IPSS and QOL score, as well as the residual urine volume, showed a significant decrease. In contrast, the pressure and pulse rate were unchanged. Serum creatinine showed a slight but significant decreased. As adverse events, frequent defecation, fecal incontinence, diarrhea, frequent urination and poor physical condition were recognized in 4 patients, but there was no serious event. CONCLUSION: For difficulty in urination due to detrusor underactivity, the combination of an alpha1-blocker with distigmine at 5 mg daily showed early efficacy and good safety.

[Nurse questionnaire survey about the urethral catheterization and clinical analysis of iatrogenic urethral injury].

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at determining the status of iatrogenic urethral injury associated with insertion of urethral catheters at our hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We studied the data of 32 patients with iatrogenic urethral injury at our hospital. We also carried out a questionnaire survey of 150 nurses who could be in charge of urethral catheter insertions, and conducted an analysis based on the answers obtained from 133 of the 150 nurses (response rate 88.7%). RESULTS: The 32 patients included 14 patients with reduced activity of daily living (ADL) who required assistance in daily life (44%), 4 patients with spinal cord injury (13%), and 4 patients under anesthesia or sedation (13%). Acute complications included sepsis in 5 patients (16%) and septic shock in 3 patients (9%). Long-term urethral catheterization was indicated in all the patients with sepsis. Examination of the responses to the questionnaire showed that while 86% of the nurses said "I inject water to fix the balloon after confirming urine outflow," 7% answered "I inject water into the balloon even if there is no urine outflow"; 46% said "I compress the lower abdomen when there is no urine outflow," 6% said "I perform urinary bladder irrigation," and 48% said "I neither compress the lower abdomen when there is no urinary flow nor perform urinary bladder irrigation". CONCLUSION: Nearly half of the patients with iatrogenic urethral injury at our hospital had reduced ADL. In the patients in whom long-term catheterization was indicated, urethral injury at the time of regular replacement of a catheter was associated with a high likelihood of sepsis occurring as a complication. Based on the results of the questionnaire, more than 80% of the nurses complied with the rule that water to fix the balloon must be injected only after confirming urinary outflow at the time of inserting a urethral catheter. However, when there was no urine outflow after insertion of the catheter, there were variations in the procedure to handle the situation. In the education of nurses, training on the appropriate actions that must be taken in this situation appears to be important.

Effect of Imidafenacin before Sleeping on Nocturia.

OBJECTIVES: Clinical efficacy, influence on quality of life (QOL), and safety of imidafenacin before sleeping were assessed in patients with overactive bladder (OAB) who suffered from nocturia. METHODS: A total of 60 OAB patients with a mean age of 74 years (45 men and 15 women) who mainly complained of nocturia were enrolled. Imidafenacin (0.1 mg) was administered once daily before sleeping for four weeks. Then the patients were divided into two groups, "a stable-dose group" with sufficient efficacy who remained on 0.1 mg of imidafenacin daily, and "a dose-escalation group" with insufficient efficacy in whom the daily dose of imidafenacin was increased to 0.2 mg before sleeping. Lower urinary tract symptoms and postvoid residual volume (PVR) were examined before treatment and after 4 and 8 weeks of imidafenacin therapy. RESULTS: In the stable-dose group, nighttime frequency decreased significantly from 3.4 ± 1.1 to 2.3 ± 1.1 and 2.6 ± 2.0 times after four and eight weeks, respectively. In the dose-escalation group, nighttime frequency did not change significantly (from 3.8 ± 1.5 to 3.6 ± 1.8 times) at four weeks, but decreased significantly to 2.8 ± 1.4 times at eight weeks. Daytime frequency, OAB symptom score, and IPSS-QOL index score were significantly improved in both groups at four and/or eight weeks. There was no increase of PVR and no serious adverse events. CONCLUSION: Administration of imidafenacin at 0.1-0.2 mg once daily before sleeping was safe and effective for the treatment of OAB with the main symptom of nocturia.

Incidence of parathyroid glands located in thymus in patients with renal hyperparathyroidism.

BACKGROUND: Parathyroid glands are frequently located in thymus, and it is essential to resect thymic tissue from the neck incision, especially in surgery for renal hyperparathyroidism (HPT). METHODS: In this study, we evaluated the incidence, location, and type of intrathymic parathyroid glands in 902 patients who underwent initial parathyroidectomy (PTx) for advanced renal HPT in our department. Removal of the thymic tongues on both sides was routinely performed from the neck incision, and the thymic tissue was carefully examined both macroscopically and microscopically. RESULTS: Of the 902 patients in the study, 269 had only inferior parathyroid glands in the thymus, in 62 patients only supernumerary glands were found in the thymic tongue, and in 78 patients both inferior and supernumerary glands were present in thymic tissue. Therefore the incidence of patients with intrathymic glands was 45.3% (269 + 62 + 78 = 409/902). In 129 (92.1%) of 140 patients with supernumerary glands in the thymic tongue, these glands were detected only on histopathological examination, and about half of them were classified as the parathyromatosis type. CONCLUSIONS: In the human, parathyroid glands might be located in the thymus in about 50%. If the inferior gland/glands cannot be found around the inferior pole of thyroid lobe, it is very important to search for glands in the thymic tongue. Moreover, to avoid missing supernumerary glands, removal of the thymic tongue on both sides is essential in surgery for renal HPT.

Activation of the rostral pontine reticular formation increases the spinal glycine level and inhibits bladder contraction in rats.

PURPOSE: We examined the mechanism involved in the inhibition of bladder activity in rats by stimulating the rostral pontine reticular formation (RPRF) using carbachol, flavoxate and propiverine, and by analysis of amino acid levels in the lumbosacral cord. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 82 female rats were anesthetized with urethane. Under isovolumetric conditions physiological saline, carbachol, flavoxate or propiverine was injected into the RPRF or intravenously. Changes in bladder activity and amino acid levels in the lumbosacral cord were examined. RESULTS: Injection of carbachol or flavoxate (0.3 microM each) into the RPRF abolished bladder contraction but there was no change after injection of physiological saline or propiverine. Intravenous injection of flavoxate or propiverine (0.1 to 10 mg/kg each) inhibited bladder contraction. Amino acid analysis revealed that injection of carbachol into the RPRF increased glutamate and glycine levels in the lumbosacral cord, while injection of flavoxate into the RPRF or intravenously caused an increase in glycine the lumbosacral cord. Injection of propiverine into the RPRF or intravenously did not influence lumbosacral cord amino acid levels. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the RPRF has an important role in the inhibition of bladder contraction and carbachol or flavoxate can activate descending RPRF neurons and inhibit bladder contraction via spinal glycinergic neurons.

[Risk factors for duration of urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy].

PURPOSE: In this study, we examined risk factors for duration of incontinence after radical prostatectomy at our hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From April 1988 to March 2000, 45 patients with prostate cancer underwent retropubic radical prostatectomy at our hospital. Thirty-eight of 45 patients could be followed up. The patients' age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), preoperative prostatic specific antigen level, clinical stage, nerve-sparing surgery or none, operation time, bleeding volume, resected prostate weight, cancer positive or negative at surgical margins, postoperative stage, radiation therapy or none, anti-androgen therapy or none, duration of postoperative incontinence, and follow-up period were examined. RESULTS: All patients had postoperative stress incontinence, and no one had urge incontinence. Medians of duration of postoperative incontinence and follow-up period were 5.5 and 12 months, respectively. When the patients were divided into 2 groups by the value of each parameter, postoperative anti-androgen therapy (chi 2 test, p = 0.0429) and high BMI (> or = 25.0 kg/m2, p = 0.0206) were related to the long duration (> or = 5.5 months) of postoperative incontinence. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that common factors are involved in the etiology of prolonged incontinence after radical prostatectomy and genuine stress incontinence in women. Therefore, both body weight control and pelvic floor muscle exercise might be also important for the treatment of incontinence after radical prostatectomy.